Aroids

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of flowering plants known for their distinctive heart-shaped leaves and often unique inflorescences
2. A diverse family of plants thriving in wet or tropical environments, characterized by their large foliage and spadix flower arrangement
3. A botanical family that includes species commonly found in aquatic habitats, notable for their striking leaf patterns and shapes

Etymology: "Aroids" is the plural of "aroid", a noun for any plant in the family Araceae, which includes arums, anthuriums, philodendrons and pothos. The plural simply counts several members of that family, and the singular "aroid" is itself a formal botanical coinage built on the name of the type genus, "Arum", the classical Latin name for a plant such as the cuckoo-pint, with the suffix "-oid" from Greek meaning "resembling" or "like". An aroid is, in effect, a plant that resembles an arum.